Wednesday, March 18, 2009

It Is What It Is...

Today's title is a tribute to a great friend who gave me a sign with those words on it. In the early going, she remarked how often I used that phrase when talking about my diagnosis. Last evening, I was showing another friend of mine the sign and told them I regarded it as a prayer of sorts. By that, I mean that there are things in this world that I can't change (i.e. cancer, etc.). However, I can change the way I react to them and also help others who are being affected by them.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I put together a "bag of fun" for the chemo staff. Yesterday, I got a call from them to let me hear they were playing Irish music in the chemo room. If you had told me a year ago that I would get a call from them on St. Patty's day, I would have raised my eyebrows at you. My life is better because I did get that call. "Tis what it tis." Amen.

Through my friend Bo, I have a new friend. His name is Hunter and he lives in Manteo NC. He is 5 years old and was diagnosed with a Wilm's tumor. He has had his kidney and adrenal gland removed. He has started chemo and his parents are concerned for him. I think a package with a fun hat may show up at his doorstep soon. Remember Hunter and his family in your thoughts and prayers. I'll keep you posted on him as I have been sharing e-mails with his parents.

2 comments:

skippy said...

First! I like "it is what it is." It is a very accepting phrase and one that encourages you not to fight against the things that you know to be true. The challenge with the phrase is to know what it is you are describing is what you believe it to be and not either what you want it to be or on the flip side, what you fear it to be. "It is what it is" requires a level of objectivity that not everyone is able to easily attain.

Anonymous said...

I read somewhere that a doctor told a cancer patient who was always worrying about what the future may bring that worrying is a waste of time. First, if nothing bad comes to pass then you've wasted all that time worrying. And, should the cancer return, then you still wasted all that time worrying when you were healthy.
It is what it is and live for today (and, I may add, for others).
Lisa